Antenna mounting base



July 5, 1960 I. H. BoucHAiiD ANTENNA MOUNTING BASE Filed Feb. 19, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR.

IRVENE H. SOUCHARD BY 224M ATTORNEY July 5, 1960 l. H. BOUCHARD 2,943,832

ANTENNA MOUNTING BASE Fi led Feb. 19, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /40 J F I G. 7

' INVENTOR.

lRVlNfi H. BGUCHARD FIG. 3

July 5, 1960 I. H. BOQCHARD 2,943,832

ANTENNA MOUNTING BASE Filed Feb. 19, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 611 1 I na 5 52 z 68) H2 7 I f I 8 as l 61" I I z I /ZO [01/ -104- s I I l I I INVENTOR.

IRVINE H. BOUCHARD ATTORNEY July 5, 1960 I. H. BOUCHARD ANTENNA MOUNTING BASE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 19, 1958 INVENTOR.

BOUCHARD IRVINE H.

FIG.

ATTORNEY Unite tatfi -atefit AINTET nus-norm G BASE when Boucha'i'd, Radio IiisflihutingCd, 1212 Highst south Benfl; Ind.-

Filed Feb. 19'; 95st see 3161716168 17 Claims. om ts-43 The present invention relates a tihg'base for mastsand'more particularly toa mounting 'bas'efor radio and television-antenna masts. I l v k V In installing antennamasts' for radio andftelevi'sion antennas on homes the usualpra cticeisjto nail, boltfor otherwise'securea mounting base -directly tether-ob? or to fasten" the mast to the chimneyof the home'withfmetal band's-or clamps; Both ofthese methods oferectingthe the mast have inherent disadvantages-which make them undesirable or unsatisfactory; The first'meth'od usually requires guy wires spaced considerable distance" from the mast and the making of anumber of holes through the roofwhich often permit leal'rage of water" there'- throu'ghe Further; 'the rain-water'di aining from the mast carrying'with' it dim and rust from the mast and base, causes unsightly permanent discoloration to thereof; The second method using bands; and clamps" to attach the mast to the chimney frequently results invdamage to the chimney bricks, particularly at the corner over which bandsandclamps are bent, and discoloratio'n to the outside surface of=theqchimney.- It is-thereforeone of the principal objects ofvthe present invention to provide an antenna mast mounting base which is free of al'l of'thc foregoing disadvantages and which can be readily installed by one man without the use of any special tools, equipment or skill. k p V p l Another object of the invention is ;to provide a' base for mounting radio and television masts which; is invisible from the ground and which does not requireeitherguy wires or ground wires for lightning 7 H 7 Still another object of the invention is toprovide a base of theaforesaidtype'which can be mounted above the roof of the home by, merely tightening a single nut of screw after the base, mast and antenna have been asse'nibled on the ground and lifted into place on the roof.

A further object is toprovide a relatively simple, inconspicuous antenna mast mounting base for use in conjunction with chimney flnes'and roof vent pipes of home toilets.

Another object of the" present invention is to provide an easily fabricated, assembled and installed antenna mounting base which can readily be removed from the home roof without leaving any holes to be filled or other evidence revealing that antenna had been mounted on the roof. I

Another object is to proi idefan easily'meiintable and demountable mast base for UHF, FMand'VHF antennas, which permits the antennas and lead connections to be readily and conveniently checked and serviced periiidicaliya .7 ,fl

'Addi tional objects 7 and advantages er he p esent invent will becoir'ie apparent from'the following description and accompanying drawings, whereini W Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional View of a, vent pipe for a home toilet; showing'my antenna niast nioiinting base andai portion of ati'antenna niasf, in elevation, mounted thereon;

Patented July 511-960:

pipe and mountinglbase shown in Figurel l taken on line 2 2; V V

Figure 3 is a side-elevational-view of my antenna mast mounting base removedifr'om the vent pipe;

Figure 4 is a top planviewofa member forming. a part of a slightly modified construction of the base shown in the precedin figures; v i

Figures is a side elevational view of the member shownin'Figure4; I v V H v V I Figure 6 .is an endelevational view ofthe member shown in Figures '4' and 5 v V Figure 7 is a fragmentary side'elevational'view of a further modified construction of' my mounting base, showing the lower end of a mast attached thereto;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view ofa v'ent pipe for a home toilet, showing another embodiment of my antenna mounting base and a portion of 'a mast, in elevatiommounted therein;

Figure 9 'is a top plan view of the mounting base and vent pipe shown in Figure 8 and a cross sectional view of the mast taken on line 99 of said figure;

Figure 10' is a horizontal cross'sectional View ofthe vent pipe and my mounting base shown in Figure 8, taken on line 1010;

v Figure i1 is a top plan view of still another modified form of the present invention showing the base mounted in the hue of a chimney; n v

Figure 12' is a vertical cross sectional view of the upper end of a flue taken on line 1212 of Figure 11, showing eter'lproj ecting ten to twelve inches above the roof and rigidly secured to a roof'rafter 22 by a metal band or strap 24 extending around the pipe and secured to the side of the rafter bynails' or screws 26'. The pipe is sealed and rendered leak-proof by a lead flashing 28extending at the upper end'over the top and down into the pipe and at the lower end between the shingles 30 and sheeting 32. The vent'pipe is standardequipment for home toilet installations and is usually on the side of the room away from the street or front of the home.

Myantenna mounting base 3-3 is shown mounted in the upper end of pipe Ziiand consists of two vertical channel iron members 34 and 36 with the flanges of the channels'extending inwardly toward the center of the pipe and with the back'of the channel members engaging the internal side walls of the pipe. The upper and lower ends of Vertical members 34 and 36 are connected by V-shaped cross members 38 and 40, respectively, cross member 38 projecting upwardly from the upper ends of the vertical members and cross member 40 pr'ojecting downwardly from the lower ends of the vertical members. In this embodiment of the present invention cross member so is formed integrally at each end with the vertical members and cross member 38 is formed integrally with the shorter or; the two vertical members 36 and is secured to the other vertical member by a bolt, rivet or screw 42. Bolt 42 in vertical member 34 and a similar bolt 44 at the top of vertical member 36 project outwardly from the respective members and form lugs 46 and 4 8 for supporting the base at the upper end of pipe 20 when the base other by the tightening'of nut; 68; 7 7 a W In theniodifiedtconstnictiou illustrated in Figures '4,'

i is init ally placed inthe pipe during the installation operation, thus assisting in properly locating the base in the pipe and preventing any accidental dropping of thebase into the' pipe.

Vertical member 34 has an extension 50 for receivingandsupporting an; antenna mast 52, the

' l wer end ,otrw ichti se i the chan e c t i h e r $eu dt ly h eto yb e or more clamps '54 extending around the mast andextension 50,

' e lamp sho inF-igure 1 qq s s ng i: a lr han portion 56 he1d in place by'aba'r 58and nuts' 60on the In installingthe foregoing mounting base; either before or after the mast has been clamped to extension 50,

toward the wall of the pipe and the fianges of member 104 seat on theiinternal wall of the pipe and theflanges of member 7102 receive the lower end of mast 54 and clamp the mast against the adjacent internal wall of the pipe as cross members 106and 108' are pulled toward each otherand'expanded outwardly by the tightening of nut 68,0n the upper e'nd'of rod 62. The base is preferably formed as a single unit with cross member 106 being joined integrally at its endswith the vertical members and with cross member 108 being joined integrally at one end with vertical member 104 and at the other end to member 102 by a'bolt 110. Bolt 110 serves the additional function of forming a seat'or support for the lower end of the mast to assist positioning themast in the base when it is being installed. The base is positioned in the pipe during the installing operation by one or more lugs or hooks 112 connected to the upper end of vertical member 104 and projecting outwardly over the top of the a pipe to support the base. i

the base is lowered into the upper end of vent pipe I until lugs 46 and 48 come to rest on the upper edge of the pipe, as shown in Figure l. Nut 68 is then tightened downwardly and as it is tightened, it bears against the upper side of cross memberfiS, thereby drawing cross members 38 and toward eachother and causing the ends-thereof to move outwardly and forcing vertical members 34 and 36 firmly against the internal side walls of the pipe or against the sidewalls of the pipe and the lip of the lead flashing extending into the upper end of the pipe. As nut 68 is tightened vertical members 34 and 36 automatically adjust themselves to irregularities in the sidewallsince as soon as either the upper; or lower end becomes firmly seated against the wall, the.force applied by nut 68 is immediately applied to the other end so that the base effectively engages the pipe at, both the top and bottom of the base, rigidlysecuringthe basein place'a'n the pipe flu order to remove the base from the pipe, nut 68 is merely loosened and the base lifted fromthe pipe.

' A number of holes iil are provided at the point of junc- V ture between the vertical members and the cross memr V hers to make those places the focal'point of the operation' when the cross members are pressedctoward eachx '5 and 6, cross members 38 and.40f aretormed as sepa rate members and are joined to the vertical members 34- and 3'6 byscrews or bolts, such'as bolts 42 and 44 for a member 38 and similarboltswith the head" facing outwardly, i;e. facing the'wall of pipe 20', for member 40. Holes 74 and 76 areprovided. in portions 78 and 80 of the'cross' members contactingthe vertical members for 'the'bolts. In this modification slots 72 rather than holes are employed to' concentrate the bending at the sides of" the cross members.

.Themodified construction shown in Figure] is similar 'to the construction shown in Figures 1, ZandS. in that the vertical and cross members and extension 50 are formed in one continuous piece resembling a figure ."67; however, in this modification the'cross members are provided with stifiening flanges 82. 7 With this construction the bending which takes place when nut 68 is tightened V is concentrated by. the flanges at points 84, 86, as an "In installing the base shown in Figures are 10 the base i is first placed in the upper end of pipe 20 supported in place therein by hooks 112 extending outwardly over the top of the pipe. -The mast is slipped downwardly be.-

tween' the'flangesof verticalmember 102 until it seats on bolt and then nut 68 is tightened,-d rawing cross members 106 and 108 toward each other and expanding them sufliciently to. force vertical member 104 firmly against the side of pipe 20 and vertical member 102 firmly against mast 52 and the mast firmly againsttthe internal side wall of the pipe.v Whenthis operation has been completed the mast is held rigidly in place in the upper end of the pipe where it will; remain until am 68 has been loosened'to remove the-mast and base.

The modified form illustrated in Figures 11, 12 and .13 is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures' 8, 9

and 10 but has been constructed to make itadaptable .to various sizes of chimney 'fiue's, the top section of-a flue liner being shown at numeral in Figureslland .l2,'with this modified mounting' b'ase mounted thercin.- The base consists'of two vertical channel nonmembers.

122 and 124-connected atthe'tdp and bottom b'y'c'ross j members 126' and 128;1espec'tively the flangesof these members all facing away -fromthe center; of the' base; The'fianges ofmember 124 seat on the internal wall of I 1 the flue liner and, in the "rectangular typeflue liner of Figures 11 and-12,.on the wall; adjacent one"of th'ecorners. The flanges of member 122 receive the lower 7 end of a mast or mast section 129 and clamp the mast section firmly against the adjacent internal wall of the flue liner, in the cornerjof the liner in theiustallation of the one illustrated, as cross members 126 and,128

' are pulled toward each other and expanded outwardly by tightening nut 130 'on'the upper end of rod 132s Red 132 extends. through both cross members 126 and 128. and is prevented from turning bya pair of nuts .134.

and'l36 on 'either'side ofmembe'r 128. To facilitate mounting of the base in the flue, the lower end of .s'ec-- tion 129 is "preferably secured to vertical member 122by one or more self-tapping screws 137. Mast'section'129 7 may be extended downwardly'below the base to a point where it will engage the upper end of thesecondliner on cross 'member 38 and at corresponding points on cross a member 40, thus eliminating the need for holes 70 or slots 72. stamped from the side of vertical member 36. V

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures Lug 48" is shown formed byra tongue of metal 9 and 10' 'is shown mounted a standard vent'pipe. V a a similar in construction to'the one shown in Figure l and hence like numerals. are used to; designate like parts; The

base'consistsf'oftwo vertical channeliron members 1 02 and 104' connected at the top and bottomby. cross members 106and 108, respectively; In this embodiment the a e the. two vs i nemb t outwa d .i-e-

section so that a more'substanti'al' footing willlbe ob tained, particularly in installations in whi ch the top'sece 7 tion may have become loosened;

V The mounting base shown in Figures ll, 12nd]; 7 V providedwith adjustable cross members consisting ofi arms joined integrally at one end'jwiththe vertical 7 rnember s and connected-atthefother end to. a modif ed V -shape'd member. 142; the lattermember being attached to 'arms 14!) by, bolts 1441 placed. either in' holes 146 or; 148. The bolts are placed in holes 146]when the base is to be'mounted in an8 /i X..8 /2 =flue'liner size and in holes 148Vwhenit is to be. mounted inLan 8 /zxl3linersize. 7 1 i V The modification in Figure14 is similar t Ith e mounting ;base s previously described herein, encept the upper cross member 150 extends downwardly and cross member 152 extends upwardly .from'the points pf juncture with the respective ends of the verticaLmembers. Nuts 154 an d;; 156 are held from rotatingand rod lfi whighis provided with left handed threads 16% and right handed threads lGZ is rotated to urge'the cross members apart and the ends thereof outwardly to clamp thef base in theyent pipe or flue, l luts 15 and 156 may be held from rotating by welding or soldering-them to the respective cross members or by'a lug on the'cr'oss' member mechanically holding them.' A s1ot1It64 for receiving a screw driver for rotating rod 153 is provided in the upper end of therm.

Mast section 129 is enlarged at its upper end 165 to receive the lower end of another mast section 166 and contains a hole 167 for receiving the end of a rod 168 of a :lead standoff fixture 17%, the latter consisting'of a band 172 around end 165 having a-threaded lugl74 onqone end' through which rod 168 is threaded.- .When rod .l68,which extends througha hole 1'76 in band 172 and hole 167, is tightened it clamps mast secti'on166 in the. enlarged end'les and at the same time locks the fixture 17d rigidly in position on the'mast to hold'the antenna lead 1781 It is seen from the drawings of the various modifications disclosed therein that' my base is completely or almost completely concealed within the pipe. It should also be noted that no holes in" the roof or pipe are required to make the installation and only a wrench, a pair of pliers or screw driver is required to fully mount and secure the base in place in-the vent pipe or chimney flue. The mast is heldfigidly' in place by'the base without guy wires and since the vent pipe is in itself grounded for lightning, no ground wires are required in connection with an installation employing my base. Rain water draining from the mast and antenna flows into the vent pipe and hence can not cause discoloration to the roof or chimney as is usually the case with conventional home antenna" installations. V I g In the claims, the term pipe unless otherwise modified is intended to embrace and include vent pipes, fines and the like.

A number of variations and modifications have been disclosed herein; other changes can be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. For example, the upper and lower cross members may be spaced inwardly from the respective ends of the vertical members even to the point of being close together near the center of the vertical members. The type of cross members shown in Figures 4, 5 and '6" lend themselves to this type of construction.

I claim: 7

r 1. A base for mounting an antenna mast on the upper end of a toilet vent pipe, comprising two vertical channel iron members with the flanges of one member facing toward the flanges of the other member, a cross member connecting said vertical members at the top thereof and projecting upwardly and inwardly above the point of juncture between said cross member and said vertical members, a cross member connecting said vertical members at the bottom thereof and projecting downwardly and inwardly below the point of juncture between said last mentioned cross member and said vertical members, said cross members having a plurality of incisions at the points of juncture with said vertical members, a rod fixedly secured to said lowercross member and projecting through and above the upper cross member, a nut on said rod above said upper cross member for forcing said; cross members toward one another to move said vertical members outwardly against the internal surface of the pipe, an extension onone of said vertical members projecting above the top of the pipe for supporting the r nses-r hers, across member connecting said vertical members nias't; mi e 1" i bersffcir positionmg"said 'asc m' the pipe."

2. A base ror' meiinting' n antennamast, onflie upper members, a crossrnember connecting said "vertical members at'thetop thereof and projecting upwardly and inwardly. above the point of juncture between said cross member and 'saidvertical members, a cross member connecting said vertical members at the bottcir'h thereof and projecting downwardlyjand inwardly-below thepoint of juncture between "sa'id'last mentioned'crossmember and said vertical members, a 'rod secured to said lower'cross member and projecting through and above the" upper cross member, a'nut on. said rod] above said-upper cross member for forcing'said cross members toward one anotherto. move. saidve'rtical members outwardly against theinteinal' surface of, thepipc, an 'extensionon one of saidfv ertic al membersfprojecting" above thcftop of the pipefor supportingthelmast, and alug at the top ot one of said vertical members for positioning'said basin the :3; A base" for mountingv an antenna mast on' the upper end of an open end pipe, comprising two vertical elongated members, a cross member connecting said verticalmemb ers adjacent the top thereof and projecting upwardlyabove the point of juncture between said cross member andsaid vertical members, a cross member connecting said vertical members adjacent the bottom thereof and projecting downwardly below the point of juncture between'said' last mentionedcross member and said vertical members, alrod secured tosaid lower cross member and projecting through and above the upper cross member, a nm on said rod above'said' upper cross member for forcing said cross members toward one another to move said 1 vertical members. outwardly against the internal surface of the pipe, and an extension on one of said vertical members projecting above the top of the pipe for supporting the mast. v V

.4. .A base for mounting a'mast on the upper end of an open end pipe, comprising two'vertical elongated memadjacent the top and projecting upwardly above the point of juncture between said cross member and said vertlcal members, a cross member connecting said vertical membe'rIsI adjacent the bottom and projecting downwardly below the point of junctur between said last mentioned cross memberand said" vertical members, a means secured tolsa'id lo'werc ro's's" member and projecting above the upper cross member, a means on said first mentioned means for" forcing said cross members toward one another to move said vertical members outwardly against the internal surface of the pipe, and an extension on one of said vertical members projecting above the top of the pipe for supporting the mast.

5. A base for mounting an antenna mast on the upper end of a toilet vent pipe, comprising two vertical elongated members, a cross member connecting said vertical members adjacent the top and projecting upwardly above the point of juncture between said cross member and said vertical members, a cross member connecting said vertical members adjacent the bottom and projecting downwardly below the point of juncture between said last mentioned cross member andsaid vertical members, a rod secured to said lower cross member and projecting above the upper cross member, a nut on said rod above said upper cross member for forcing said cross members toward one another to move said vertical members outwardly, and a lug at the top of one or" said vertical members for positioning said base in the pipe.

6. base for mounting a mast on the upper end of an open end pipe and the like, comprising two vertical elongated members, a cross member connecting said vertical members and projecting upwardly above the point of juncture between said cross member and said vertical members, a cross member connecting said vertical n'g'two vertical channel iron 'members and projecting downwardly below the point of juncture between said last {mentioned crossxmember and sa idvertica1 members, a means secured to said lower gross member and projecting above the upper cross member, and a means on said first mentioned means for fore-i ing saidjcrossm'embers toward one another to move said vertical members outwardly. j i f7. A base for mounting a mast on the upper end of a I pipegcoinprising' two vertical channel iron membersiwith 'the flanges of one member facing'away from the flanges offthe other member, a cross member connecting said vertical members adjacent the top thereof and projecting upwardly above the point of juncture between said cross member and saidvertical members, a cross member connecting said vertical members adjacent the bottom there of and projecting downwardlybelow the point of juncture between said ,last1mentioned cross member and said vertical members, a rod secured to saidlower cross memher and projecting above the-upper cross member, a nut ,on said; rod above said upper cross memberifor focusing said cross members toward one another to move said vertical members outwardly, and a lug at the top of one of said vertical members for positioningv said base in the pipe. 8. A base for mounting an antenna; mast on the upper end of a vent pipe,'comprising two vertical channel iron members With'the flanges ,of one member facing away from the flanges of the other memben'one of said members being adapted to receive the lower end of the mast,

' across member connecting said vertical members adjacent the top thereof and projecting upwardly above the panding both of said V-shaped members to move said point of ju'ncturebetween said cross member and said vertical members, a cross'member connecting said vertical members adjacent the bottom thereof and projecting downwardly below the point of juncture between said 55 here, a rod secured to said lower cross member and prolast mentioned cross member andsaid. vertical'mem jecting above the upper cross member, a nut on said rod above, said upper cross member a for ,forcing said cross members toward one another to mo've said vertical membersoutwardly, one of said vertical members being forced against the internal fsurtace'ofthe pipe and-the other,

*vertieai member against the lower e d of the mast t o clamp, the mastin the upper, end otthe pipe, a lug'at the top jet one, of said vertical members for positioning i said base in -the pipe, and a member near the bottom g 9. A base for mounting an antenna mast on the upper end of an open end pipe, comprising two vertical elongated members, one of said members being adapted to receive the lower end of the mast, a cross member connecting said vertical members and projecting upwardly above the point of juncture between said cross member and said vertical members, a cross member con- 7 necting said vertical members and projecting downwardly below'the point of juncture between said last mentioned cross member .and said vertical members, a rod of one of said vertical members tor positioning said.

base in the pipe.

, 10. A base, for mounting a mast on the'upper end of I an open'end pipe and the like, comprising two vertical elongated members, one of said members being adapted '45 of the vertical member contactingthemast tor supportf ing and positioning saidmast in. the pipe.

below the point .of juncture between last mentionedcross member and said vertical members, a means solcured to said lowercross member and-projecting -above tthe'uppericross member, and a means on said: first mentioned means for forcing said cross membersitoward one v another to move said vertical members outwardly, one

of said vertical members being urged against the internal.

surface of the pipe and the other vertical member against t 7 the lower end of the, mast to clamp the mast in the-upper end of the pipe;

'11. A' base for mounting a mast on the upper endof I an open end pipe and the like, comprising two vertical elongated members, -a V-shaped crossmember connecting said vertical members adjacent the top thereof, a V-shaped cross member connecting said vertical members adjacent. the bottom thereof, a rod connecting said cross mem-'- bers, and a means cooperating with said'rod for'exvertical members outwardly. t '7 j 12. A base for mounting a mast on the upper end of an open end pipe and the like, comprising two vertical elongated members, a V-shaped cross member connecting said vertical members adjacent the top thereof, a

V-shaped cross member connecting said vertical mem 7 bers adjacent the bottom thereof, 'said V-shaped members facing in opposite directions, a rod connecting said cross members, and a means cooperating with said rod for expanding both of said V-shaped members to move I said vertical members outwardly. a 1

13. A base for mounting a mast on the upper end of an open end pipe and the like, comprising two vertical elongated members, two V-shaped'cross memberscorr neoting said vertical members, said V-shaped members 1 facing in opposite directions, a rod connecting said V-shaped members, and a means cooperating withsaid rod for expanding both, of said- V-shaped members to move said vertical members outwardly toward the inter.- nal walls of the pipe. 1

l4. A'base for mounting a mast on the upper endof I an open end pipe and the like, comprising two vertieal elongated members, two V shaped cross :members Iconnecting said vertical members, said V-shaped members facing inopposite directions, and a meansconnecting said Vfshaped members for expanding both ofiisaid V-shaped members tomo ve 'said'vertical members outwardly. e 15. A base for mounting a mast'on the upper endr of an open end pipe and the like, comprising two vertical elongated members, one of said members beingadapted to-receive the lower end of the mast, a 'V-shaped cross member connecting said vertical members ,at the top thereof, a \I-shaped cross member connecting said vertical members at the bottom thereof, a rod connecting said cross members and projecting above the upper cross member, and a means on said rod ior expanding both of said V-shaped members to move saidvertical mem -bers outwardly,ione of said vertical members against the internal surface of the pipe and the other vertical member against the lower end of the mast to clamp the mast in the upper end of the pipe. t v 16. A base for mounting a mast on the upper end of 'an open end pipe and the like, comprisingtwo vertical elongated members, a cross member connecting said vertical members-rand projecting downward below the 1 point of juncture between said cross 'membervand said vertical members, a cross memberconnecting saidvertical members below said first mentioned cross member and' projecting upwardly above the point of juncture between "said last mentioned cross member and; said ventical to receive the lower end of themast, a cross member connecting said vertical members and'projecting upward:

1y above the point of junoturebetween said cross member and said vertical members, across member connecting said vertical members and projecting downwardly wardly. V V I a 1 A m o m i n antenna m t the PP? members, a" means connecting said cross members near the centers thereof, and means cooperating with saidfirst mentioned means tor forcing said cross members away 7 to move said vertical membersou'tfrbm' one another per end of an open end pipe and the like, comprising two vertical elongated members, va. V-shaped .cross member connecting said vertical members at the .top thereof, a V-sh-aped cross member connecting said vertical members at the bottom thereof, a rod connecting said cross members and projecting above the upper cross member, and a means on said rod for expanding said cross members to move said vertical members outwardly against the internal surface of .the pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bowman July 31, 1923 Flor Aug. 22, 1933 Friedman Jan. 30, 1940 Felber Aug. 15, 1950 Dudley et 2.1. e Mar. 6, 1951 Robinson Sept. 27, 1955 

